Calendar Girls

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RIVERSIDE Drama Group are to perform the legendary Calendar Girls as well as help boost funds for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research at the Duchess Theatre, Chatsworth Centre, West Gate, Long Eaton, from Wednesday, 31st October-Saturday, 3rd November (7.30pm).
This will be the first time this hugely acclaimed production, written by Tim Firth, has been performed in the town and tickets are already selling well.
The story of the Calendar Girls has touched hearts all over the country, but only professional groups have been able to do the show until now.
However, from this month the rights to amateur productions of the Calendar Girls stage show have been released for 18 months only, giving women up and down the country the chance to follow in the footsteps of the many actresses who have dared to bare all in the roles before.
Calendar Girls was made famous by the 2003 movie, starring an ensemble cast headed by Julie Walters and Helen Mirren, and the story brings tears and laughter in equal measures.
When Annie’s husband John dies of Leukaemia she and her best friend Chris decide to raise money for a new settee for the local hospital waiting room.
They manage to persuade four fellow Women’s Institute members to pose nude for an ‘alternative’ calendar, with a little help from hospital porter and amateur photographer Lawrence.
News of the women’s charitable venture spreads like wildfire and hordes of press soon descend on the small village of Knapely in the Yorkshire Dales.
The Calendar is a success but Chris and Annie’s friendship is put to the test under the strain of new found fame.
Based on a true story of 11 WI members who posed nude for a calendar to raise money for Leukaemia Research Fund, Calendar Girls opened at the Chichester Festival Theatre in September 2008 and has since become the fastest selling play in British theatre history.
The Riverside production will be directed by Liz Turner.
Annie will be played by Lizzie O’Hara, Chris by Mina Machin and Cora by Donna Chinn. Charlotte Lloyd takes the part of Ruth with Clare Toska as Celia and Celia Billau as Jessie.
Louisa Hatton makes her Riverside debut as Marie as does Carrie Churchill in the role of Elaine.
Brenda will be played by Moya Magee.
Of the male roles, John will be played by Dan Bates, Rod by John Lomas, Lawrence by Conor Daly and Liam by Gary Peake.
Riverside have also produced their own version of the saucy Calendar Girls calendar, featuring the cast of the show, which will be available during the run and the price will include a donation to Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.
The company will also be selling other Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research merchandise from a stall at the theatre.
This production will bring to an end a memorable year for Riverside whose brilliant version of The Pocket Dream saw them invited by the Royal Shakespeare Company to perform the show in the RSC Open Stages regional finals in Manchester and, ultimately, at the legendary Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Tickets for Calendar Girls are priced £7 full and £5 concessions and are available via the group web site www.riversidedrama.com, from the Chatsworth Centre coffee mornings on Saturdays (10am-noon), or by calling 0115 9170327 or 0115 8750506.
The group rehearse every Thursday night at Bramcote Church of England Primary School (7.30pm) and new members are always made welcome.
Riverside offer the chance for people of all ages, abilities and experience (or lack of) to try their hand at acting.
But for those who have no wish to tread the boards, the group also offer a wealth of opportunities to become involved with all aspects of modern theatre from backstage to front of house.
If you would like to become involved, simply turn up any Thursday at the Bramcote Church of England School or you can e-mail contact@riversidedrama.com or telephone the above numbers.